Amor Furniture expanding in Staley

LIBERTY — Amor Furniture and Bedding, LLC, an independent manufacturer of promotional sofas and love seats based in Liberty, has expanded into a 74,000-square-foot plant in nearby Staley, becoming one of the area’s largest employers.

The move indicates a significant expansion of production capability and reflects the company’s recent increase in sales over the past two years.

“You have to know what your target market is, stay focused and don’t chase the last trend. Really, you have to stick to what you do best,” said Spiro Laousis, the company’s CEO, explaining the latest move.

Amor Furniture owns several industry brands, including Sleep Line Bedding, its promotional mattress line, and the upholstery furniture division’s flagship brand, Southern Comfort Furniture. The company currently has 15 employees and hopes to add 20 more in the near future.

Laousis attributes the uptick in his South Comfort Furniture brand, the catalyst behind the acquisition of additional facilities in Staley, to a strong e-commerce and Internet-based presence. Also, he credits the focus on value-priced styles and dedication to core products in the face of strong cut-and-sew competition and resurgent domestic manufacturing.

“When you are competing for shrinking dollars in a tough market, you have to cut costs in the name of efficiency and go after non-traditional markets such as the long-ignored inner city or growing Hispanic market,” said Steve Friedland, the company representative in Maryland.

Friedland believes tight seats are still “in,” and customers appreciate the cost savings over loose-cushioned sets that usually cost much more.

Dealers tell Friedland that it is not worth importing a low-end sofa set after freight is factored in, leaving a market gap which Amor Furniture is filling. For further discounts, Amor Furniture offers off-priced, factory-select fabrics and closeouts for the dealer. Everything helps the bottom line and that’s what it’s all about at the dealer level.

“If there is to be a turnaround in this economy, it isn’t gonna just happen, you got to make it happen. That’s what it’s all about,” Laousis said.

With production already started in Staley, Amor Furniture hopes to create additional new jobs over the next business cycle and breath life into the local economy.